Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Foz do Iguaçu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Foz do Iguaçu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $759 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,146 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,533 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

Medellin costs about 32% more than Foz do Iguaçu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Foz do Iguaçu are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Foz do Iguaçu 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$5.43 R$27.57

8.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$35.69 R$181

-7.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$6.12 R$31.08

21.41%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.47 R$7.46

12.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.16 R$5.90

-5.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.38 R$1.91

105.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.10 R$5.59

56.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$2.73 R$13.85

16.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.78 R$3.98

41.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$1.35 R$6.85

-6.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.53 R$7.78

-9.80%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.47 R$12.56

-11.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$7.18 R$36.45

-37.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$3.64 R$18.47

59.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.40 R$37.57

21.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.95 R$9.90

18.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.10 R$5.58

-3.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$0.88 R$4.46

72.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$1.11 R$5.63

22.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.89 R$4.49

26.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.95 R$4.82

23.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.77 R$3.93

16.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.73 R$3.72

23.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$2.68 R$13.62

-16.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$7.88 R$39.97

53.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$1.67 R$8.47

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$2.59 R$13.12

-4.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.86 R$4.37

-1.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$37.82 R$192

10.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$1.09 R$5.54

30.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.72 R$3.63

170.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$6.55 R$33.26

20.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$0.93 R$4.70

6.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$20.3K R$103.1K

-13.40%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$27.8K R$140.8K

-3.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$63.6 R$323

30.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$17.53 R$88.9

-44.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$18.24 R$92.5

28.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$17.97 R$91.2

40.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$22.05 R$112

-13.38%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$7.92 R$40.18

-50.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$316 COP 994.2K

$220 R$1,118

43.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$6,374 R$32.3K

-6.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$42.66 R$216

40.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$16.23 R$82.4

96.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$46.23 R$235

119.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$35.41 R$180

203.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$298 R$1,514

59.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$234 R$1,188

59.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$541 R$2,744

56.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$348 R$1,765

106.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,245 R$6,319

162.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$890 R$4,516

61.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$395 R$2,006

57.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.92

22.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Foz do Iguaçu: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $298 in Foz do Iguaçu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Foz do Iguaçu. Groceries tell a different story – $193 in Medellin vs $170 in Foz do Iguaçu – so Foz do Iguaçu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Foz do Iguaçu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,003 in Medellin, $759 in Foz do Iguaçu – roughly 32% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,139 in Foz do Iguaçu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $316 per month in Medellin and $220 in Foz do Iguaçu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Foz do Iguaçu, where all-in costs run around $759, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Foz do Iguaçu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $759 in Foz do Iguaçu to $1,003 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Foz do Iguaçu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.